EVALUATION OF BARLEY AND WHEAT HEAD-CHOP SILAGES FOR DAIRY COWS

Abstract

Head-chop silages made from barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) harvested at the mid- to late-dough stage of maturity were evaluated by laboratory methods and by feeding to dairy cows. There were linear decreases in crude protein (CP) content and in vitro true digestibility (IVTD) when comparisons of grain, heads, heads + 15 cm straw, heads + 30 cm straw and heads + 45 cm straw were made. The barley and wheat head-chop silages produced for the cow feeding trial averaged 19.9 and 22.7% ADF and were readily accepted by the cows. The head-chop silages were fed at 22 kg cow−1 d−1 (as-fed basis) plus a grain mixture according to production level. The total grain consumption was similar to that of the control cows which were fed 1 kg of grain per 3 kg of milk produced. All cows were fed timothy (Phleum pratense L.) silage ad libitum. Cows fed the wheat head-chop consumed less total feed (P < 0.01) than those fed the other two treatments and produced less milk (P < 0.01); but, milk fat content was higher (P < 0.01) so there were no significant differences in fat corrected milk production among the treatments. It was concluded that head-chop silage was a suitable way of conserving cereal crops for feeding dairy cows. Key words: Barley, wheat, head-chop, dairy cows, silage